NYC’s enormously popular High Line Park is almost complete. The final 0.58-mile portion of the formerly abandoned railway line making up the elevated Chelsea park was donated by CSX Transportation in early July under the Rails-to-Trails Program, and the elevated NYC park is on track to be opened to the public in 2014.

The CSX donation leaves the City of New York free to turn the property license over to Friends of the High Line, the organization responsible for the park’s maintenance and operations (as well private fundraising to help subsidize the park).

New York City’s Parks and Recreations Department recently allocated $5 million to the High Line, a substantial portion of the $105 million budget available for the 2013-year. Previous sections of the park were released in 2009 and again 2011, which led to a “neighborhood renaissance” in Chelsea. The final section is estimated for 2013 completion and scheduled to be open to the public by 2014.